The Post-Crescent from Appleton, Wisconsin • 37

TO yuuh uun act: Ed Berthiaume, features editor AAA ftrto A rrr eAr PAGE D-1 Thursday, December 12 1996 1 1 H-aa j- i uuu, exi. 1 3 e-mail: PCNewsAthenet.net Li cran '-ft-' Gifts for special needs children might take more time, planning "V- By Jennifer Comes Roy The Wichita Eagle WICHITA, Kan. Debbie Campbell wants her 3-year-old daughter, Hannah, to have age-appropriate toys that are fun and build skills. She also wants toys that Hannah and her 6-year-old sister Molly can play with together. But Hannah has cerebral palsy and her muscle tone is very low, which makes it difficult for the Campbells to find anything that meets their fj ft Brit Hume i A "Every kid with special needs is so individualized and every kid needs a different toy," Campbell said.

"That's probably part of the reason why it's hard to buy toys for her." The parents don't want to settle for toys that really are intended for younger children. "Hannah is a toddler, not a baby," Campbell said, "and it's important that we treat her more as a 3-year-old. We're looking now for age-appropriate toys that Hannah can manipulate -touchy-feely things, stuff that has smells, sounds, because if she can't use her hands, she has to use her other senses." But difficult as it is for parents to find appropriate toys, it's even harder for grandparents, relatives or friends who want to buy a great toy for a child with special needs. They're more removed from the situation, and consequently they have to guess what might work. Census figures indicate that one out of every 10 children has a condition or disability that may have an effect on his or her While shopping for toys for children with special needs, keep the following points in mind; Is the toy safe for this child? Look for sturdy toys that the child can manage easily, Check the packaging for safety precautions or warning labels.

If the toy has small parts that could be swallowed or inhaled and the child still puts toys in his or her mouth, even occasionally, steer clear of it. Consider whether the child is learning to reach, to talk, to walk, or approach other developmental steps Talk with parents, teachers and therapists about what kinds of toys might enhance or develop new skills. a Bear in mind how much time it takes to play with the toy. Some toy balls, dolls, bubbles can be picked up at any time, while construction games, toys and crafts work better for children who have the energy and attention span for longer play sessions. Keep the social demands of the game or toy in mind.

Remember that some toys are meant to be played with another child, and some toys, with several ffl Is it age-appropriate? Abilities or disabilities may influence the type of toy that's appropriate, but having toys that are also chronologically appropriate also build a child's self- esteem. Children with severe cognitive or communications limitations can still hit a tether ball or play the bongo drums, for example. Or an older child who loves music should be given a tape recorder, for example, that's appropriate to his age group. ill i tf Jumping ship 23 years with ABC, Brit Hume is leaving the network to become chief of Washington operations for the fledgling Fox News Channel. "It's like moving from the Yankees to an expansion team," Hume said.

"But this is ho ordinary expansion team. My view is they have put an astonishing product on the air in a period of time which one would have thought is not possible." Fox News Channel took to the air Oct. 7, joining CNN and MSNBC as cable all-news outfits. Hume, ABC's chief White House correspondent, will oversee Washington news and deliver reports for Fox starting in January. The move forced some managerial jug-gling at Fox, where Hume's wife, Kim, is deputy bureau chief.

Neither Hume will report to each other, he said. Neither Fox nor Hume would discuss financial terms. Hume, 53, began working for ABC's documentary division in 1973. He will be succeeded as ABC's White House correspondent by John Donvan, a fprmer Moscow bureau chief who most recently covered the Dole campaign for the network. Royal show In true LA.

style, the Duchess of York is planning a series of power meetings with network and studio executives this week to discuss a possible TV project. While no deals have been finalized, announcements were expected in the poming months. Her spokesman, Howard Rubenstein, has said Fergie is fielding offers to be host of a daytime talk show and is considering other opportunities in television and as a corporate spokeswoman. The former Sarah Ferguson, 37, was divorced from Prince Andrew in May and hit the U.S. TV circuit last month to promote her autobiography, "My Story." She is frying to wipe out multimillion-dollar debt.

Look in the mirror Rolling Stone mag took careful notice of the radical changes plaguing music stars (see Sheryl Crow), and although nobody asked, it decided to give a little tough love to the guy with the worst makeover. "What the hell has gotten into you, Bryan Adams? Year in, year out, your look was exactly the same: comfy plaid shirt, tastefully faded jeans, give-me-the-usual haircut and l-may-sing-ballads but-Tm-not-a-(wimp) work boots. Then you put out this new album, and for some reason, you get it in your head that you've got to look like an outtake from Details fashion spread. Mod hair with blond streaks? Shiny suits? And, please, what's with the mesh shirt and slick hip-huggers in the deeply disturbing video for "The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You might even be wearing eye makeup. Dude, you are from Canada OK? Now, run and get that J.

Crew catalog, and start dialing." The mutation defense Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, unmarried for 14 years, indicate in a magazine piece that the secret of their relationship is freedom to see others. "I don't believe we own anybody," the says in a Vanity Fair interview. "I tton't think Kurt sexually only has eyes for we. The reality of him going out of traveling, of seeing a woman I think it's kind if unnatural not to have those tendencies." Adds he: "Men are not supposed to see one woman and only desire one woman. That's just science.

If the species doesn't mutate, it'll die. This is a man. This is what he's on earth for." From Post-Crescent wire services hi Jesse Freeman, a teacher whose 3-year-old son, Alex Gamber, has cerebral palsy, advises family and friends to "either get him clothes, or I send them a list." What Alex likes best are toys that have flashing lights or noisemakers, or ones that play music. "Those are really fun for him." Highest on Freeman's personal list of toys for Please see TOYS, D-2 KRT photo by Anthony Reed OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST JEANNE SHORT works with Alex Gamber, 3, and his Tech Little Smart Talk n' Smile Town. Children with disabilities have special needs when it comes to toys.

Puppy love: Animated storybook leaves users hooked Kids who like "101 Dalmatians" are bound to enjoy "Disnes Animated Storybook: The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "Disney's Activity Center Toy Story," (Disney Interactive, CD-ROM for Windows and Macintosh, $34.95 each). "Hunchback" (ages 3-9) is similar to "101 Dalmatians" in format and boasts a 360-degree panorama screen of the streets of Paris and the title cathedral. "Toy Story" (ages 5 and up) has the same stunning 3-D graphics that made the film such a hit NEW YORK (AP) Kids hooked on certain cuddly spotted puppies frolicking across movie theater screens coast to coast don't need to go the pet store to continue the fantasy adventure after the closing credits roll. All they need to do is to turn the family PC into a doghouse. "Disney's Animated Storybook: 101 Dalmatians" (Disney Interactive, CD-ROM for Windows and Macintosh, $34.95, for ages 3-7) is a perfect digital playmate for plugged-in preschoolers, taking them on a playful canine cartoon journey.

Based on the animated Disney classic, not the live-action remake currently in theaters starring Glenn Close, the CD-ROM features fun sing-alongs and read-alongs telling the tale of Cruella De Vil's plot to skin London's Dalmatian puppies for an extremely politically incorrect fur coat Baby boomer parents who warmly recall the original "101 Dalmatians" will have a nostalgic blast bonding with their Nintendo generation offspring, building, shared experiences the kids can fondly look back on when they grow up. Kids can have the storybook just read aloud to them, but most will go with the Read Play option, in which cartoon sequences punctuate storytelling and each page is packed with interactive goodies to keep mouse fingers hopping. mm? km JEFF DANIELS and Pongo are shown in a scene from "101 Dalmatians." "Disney's Animated Storybook: 101 Dalmatians" features sing-alongs and Please see storybook, D-2 read-alongs based on the animated film, not the live-action remake..